Everyone loves Fridays. Teachers, students, workers and many others look forward to the end of the school and work week, even when it feels miles away. People value Fridays well in advance because they enjoy that feeling of anticipation, the sensation leading up to a well-deserved break at the end of the week. That anticipation is important for everyday life because routine without anticipation becomes dull, causing people to turn to instant gratification. A strong sense of anticipation is crucial because it can also boost mood and productivity, since people are more likely to work harder when they know a break is coming.
A scheduled, routine week without the variety produced by anticipation can feel tedious or boring.
A 2024 Psychology Today article emphasizes how thinking about—or anticipating—something in the future can activate the brain’s reward system and release dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and happiness.
If every day was Friday, or if people didn’t have to wait for it, we would get used to that and grow bored of it, lessening the subsequent dopamine release. Therefore, the value of anticipation is in its production of excitement. That excitement and emotional build up is the reason people enjoy Friday before it even arrives.
Additionally, anticipation can serve as a mental energizer and reverse boredom from tedious routines. In contrast, pushing through something without expecting a break can make the task feel mundane or endless. Knowing that something enjoyable is coming up—like Friday plans for rest or relaxation— can spark motivation and mood prior to the anticipated event.
Anticipation is like a delayed, cognitive version of a RedBull to get you through the week. It isn’t just about the emotions though. Anticipation can also be used as a tool to fuel productivity and efficiency.
However, some may argue that anticipation can actually create feelings of restlessness and impatience toward what a person is waiting for.
While waiting for an event or day could make some people feel that way, oftentimes the idea of whatever reward a person is anticipating is enough for them to push through that internal tension. They might even subconsciously enjoy that crazed restlessness or find it humorous.
Anticipation gives Fridays their spark, and the feeling acts as the prolonged version of an emotional ‘energy drink’ that makes Friday—and the days leading up to it— feel special. Looking forward to a break after a week filled with routines and responsibilities can propel a person’s energy and focus leading up to the beloved Fridays.
So next time you’re counting down the days left in the week, don’t rush the wait, embrace it. Let anticipation fuel your focus, lift your motivation and make the reward of Fridays feel even more fulfilling. Remember that Fridays aren’t just the end of the work week, but proof that looking forward to something in anticipation is half the joy of it.
